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You might think that the cost of visiting Walt Disney World has already hit an all-time high, but it turns out things can always get worse. It seems that no matter how potential Guests try to plan and strategize for a family vacation, there is always some new, unexpected price hike to deal with.
Credit: Canva
It is no secret that Disney Parks prices have been increasing to untenable levels in recent years, with many lifelong fans complaining that a family visit to Disneyland or Disney World easily ends up costing them five figures. Potential Guests not only have to deal with the actual costs of passes and meal plans but also constantly increasing lodging taxes, parking fees, and travel costs.
Related: Fire Emergency: Disney World Guests Blocked From Park, Highway Shut Down
At this point, people are so fed up with the costs of visiting Disney World that an entire cottage industry has sprung up to advise them on how to find deals and navigate the tangled labyrinth that is the Disney Parks system (never mind that people have to pay for those costs too). It has gotten so extreme that Disney is actually banning third-party guides from its park and trying to counter-intuitively tell Guests not to worry about it and just come to Disney World without any particular plans, like in this commercial that states,
“At Walt Disney World Resort, magic is found in spontaneity, the unplanned, the unexpected: an inside joke born in the Haunted Mansion queue, a surprise Stitch sighting in Tomorrowland, watching fireworks from your room. These memories aren’t made from predetermined plans but manifested from simply being present and together in the most magical place. Find your moment at Walt Disney World Resort.”
While that is a nice thought in general, it is undeniable that a trip to Disney World costs more than it ever has before and takes more planning, particularly as Guests deal with insanely overcrowded airports and fires shutting down major highways.
Credit: Inside the Magic
Some visitors might be able to save some money by flying directly into Orlando International Airport (MCO), though Fox reports that it “had its busiest travel day ever on March 16 with a record 102,064 departing passengers… This spring break, MCO had more visitors than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).”
Related: Disney Unknowingly Alerts Guests to Keep Out for Spring Break
Others might try their luck at getting to Magic Kingdom via car travel, but bad news there, too: gas prices in Florida have hit a record high for 2024, adding yet another price hike to the cost of a Disney World visit. According to ClickOrlando, the average cost of gasoline in Florida has risen to $3.62 a gallon, which is 11 cents more than motorists paid this time last year.
Credit: Inside the Magic
It is also nearly ten cents above the average national cost of a gallon of gasoline, which AAA currently lists as $3.535. AAA Spokesman Mark Jenkins said, “Fuel prices made modest gains in the futures market last week…Analysts believe OPEC and its allies will not lift production cuts before June, even as seasonal fuel demand is projected to grow.” To translate, gas prices aren’t going down anytime soon.
The Department of Energy currently explains the rising cost of gas in the United States as a combination of crude oil costs, taxes, refining costs, and distribution and marketing, as seen in this chart:
Credit: Department of Energy
Related: Disney CEO Bob Iger Caught Lying: Aggressive Ticket Price Increase Incoming
But that is of small comfort to Disney Guests (or anyone) in Florida who is simply trying to get from Point A to Point B without paying a fortune.
People traveling to Disney World in Orlando might have one small reprieve from the rising cost of Disney magic from an unexpected source: Florida Governor and frequent legal opponent of the Mouse Ron DeSantis. Under the governor’s stewardship, the state has renewed a discount program that offers a 50% reduction in toll fees for people who conduct at least 35 monthly toll transactions, effective immediately. It does require SunPass or another compatible transponder system, which might be difficult for out-of-state visitors, but still, any chance to reduce costs for a Disney visit will likely help some.
Credit: Inside the Magic
Do you think Disney World prices have gotten out of hand? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
This post Disney World Guests Face Unexpected Price Hike Over Spring Break appeared first on Inside the Magic.
